Green Building Contributions

The LEED(R) (Leadership in Energy an Environmental Design) Rating System, developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is intended to help building owners and operators to be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.   LEED is the preeminent rating system in the United States.  The USGBC built an overlap period, until June 1, 2015, in which projects can be registered to become certified under LEED 2009 or LEED v4.   Below is a summary of both systems (buildings still have the option to use either system) and how the credits available coincide with the use of lightweight honeycomb reinforced stone and porcelain panels.

Sustainable Sites

Under LEED 2009, credit SS 7.2 is available for reducing the heat island effect. This is mainly for roofing systems and makes 1 point available. Although, most light-colored stone wall panels may meet the criteria to reflect heat and thereby reduce the heat island effect. Under an innovation credit, it may be possible to show that the heat reflective qualities are available in the specified wall panels and therefore help reduce environmental heat build-up.

Optimize Energy Performance

Both LEED 2009 and LEED v. 4 place a strong value on reducing the use of fossil fuels and increasing the use of non-polluting renewable energy. Porcelain products and reflective stone can contribute to improved thermal performance by reflecting away unwanted heat from the building, particularly in warm climates. In order to receive points in this credit category the building must demonstrate a percentage increase in energy savings in accordance with ASHRAE standards. Depending of the degree of energy savings determines the number of points available.

Materials and Resources

The different versions of the LEED® rating system has changed dramatically. LEED 2009 includes four areas where lightweight reinforced wall panels can contribute to an overall green building:

• Credit 1.1: Building Reuse: Maintain 55%, 75% or 95% of Existing Walls, Floors and Roof (1-3 points). If reinforced wall panels already exist in a building being renovated, they may be able to be salvaged and re-used since their life expectancy is very long.
• Credit 2: Construction Waste Management (1 -2 points). The nature of custom fabricated wall panels limits scrap material and reduces construction site waste accordingly.
• Credit 3: Materials Reuse: 5% or 10% (1 or 2 points). When stone or porcelain faced reinforced panels are reclaimed from other installations, they can be re-used in another building and contribute directly to this credit.
• Credit 4: Recycled Content: 10% and 20% (1 – 2 points). The stone and porcelain portion of the panels are most commonly new materials. However, the aluminum honeycomb backer can be made from 100% recycled aluminum and can contribute directly to this credit.
• Credit 5: Regional Materials (1 – 2 points). Many reinforced lightweight wall panels are manufactured in the USA meaning a regional material contribution is possible depending on proximity to the building.

The Materials and Resources category under LEED v.4 takes different approach to defining the green nature of building products. There are still credits for Building Re-use and Construction Waste Management, but the rest of the approach focuses on the full life cycle of those products. The key documentation needed to demonstrate performance under this approach is referred to as an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Individual manufacturers or a trade association can prepare specific or generic EPDs for products. The overall intent is to address an emphasis on transparency in the sourcing, ingredient, and manufacturing processes as called for in LEED v. 4. As we have seen, lightweight reinforced panels can be shown to produce more favorable environmental impacts as assessed throughout the product’s life cycle, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing packaging, use, and disposal at the end of a building’s useful life.